Chapter Seventeen
“ISN’T IT?” SAID MYRTLE. She put down her tote bag and gave Jack a huge hug. He ran off to bring her a toy to show her. Lieutenant Perkins rose off the sofa to greet her and she gave him a hug. “So nice to see you again, Perkins!”
Red was still looking at the tote bag with distrust. “What’s this culinary triumph you were talking about?”
“Pudding. It’s absolutely delicious.”
“Is it? Have you tasted it, Mama? Because it seems to me that not sampling your own recipes is one of your failings.”
Perkins seemed to be concealing a smile.
Myrtle said breezily, “I didn’t have to taste it. I just gave it a visual inspection. It looked just fine and will be a perfect dessert for our dinner.”
Red glowered at her. “You’re not planning on staying for dinner?”
“Well, of course I
